Amy Neville and Kristin Bride describe each other as soulmates, united by tragedy on June 23, 2020, when both lost their teen sons due to harms associated with social media. Their children never met, living a thousand miles apart, but their loss forged a deep connection. In their early advocacy work, Bride felt isolated, but as they engaged with other parents seeking stronger social media protections, their efforts grew into a movement. A pair of jury verdicts this year marked a shift towards holding tech companies accountable.
Neville feels momentum is building, expressing the power of having public opinion on their side. Her son, Alexander Neville, was a bright and entrepreneurial spirit. At 14, he was sold a fatal pill by a drug dealer on Snapchat. Carson Bride was known for his humor and kindness, but cyberbullying led to his suicide at 16. Both teens were commemorated in Washington, D.C., along with 270 others affected by online harms, marking the anniversary as Social Media Victims Remembrance Day.
“Moving forward for me, it’s this groundswell,” Neville said. “We now have the court of public opinion on our side.”
Internationally, awareness of social media’s dangers to young people has resulted in new restrictions. Countries like Australia, the U.K., and Turkey have banned children under certain ages from using platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. In the U.S., progress has been slower, but jury verdicts have inspired efforts for kids’ online safety, revealing internal practices of tech firms. The pursuit of justice faces challenges due to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects companies from liability over posted content. However, lawsuits now focus on intentional design choices instead of content.
Advocates acknowledge a long battle lies ahead. Federal efforts have been sluggish, with outdated legislation like the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act still in effect. Recently, a bipartisan proposal, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, emerged. Critics argue it lacks a crucial ‘duty of care’ provision to ensure safer practices by tech firms.
“Without a duty of care, Big Tech companies will maintain the status quo,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
Bride emphasizes a multi-pronged strategy involving legislation, litigation, and education. With ongoing trials and litigation, the movement persists despite legislative stalls. Social media platforms, while enhancing safety features, still prioritize engagement. Instances include Instagram’s PG-13 alignments and YouTube’s supervised kid accounts, but significant improvements are necessary.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal advocate for repealing Section 230, with calls for urgent legislative action. Sen. Josh Hawley challenges Congress to act, pointing to tech industry lobbying and contributions as barriers. The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to invite major tech CEOs to testify about platform safety for children, questioning whether social media has reached a critical turning point.
Amidst these efforts, Neville and Bride continue their advocacy, driven by the belief that lives are at stake. Neville remains committed, despite personal strain, to raising awareness and demanding action to safeguard children in the digital age.